Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America
May 5, 2008
Campaign to Reduce Poverty in AmericaCampaign Goals
Reduce poverty rate in the United States by 50% by the year 2020.
Call upon the government to do more to serve those who are poor and to improve public policies that strengthen and support families.
Campaign to Reduce Poverty in AmericaCampaign Goals
Educate policy makers and the public about the struggles of those living in poverty and the good work of those who serve them in local communities.
Engage those who are most impacted by government policies to be active participants in developing solutions to reducing poverty.
Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America
Policy Papers Poverty in America: A Threat to
the Common Good (2007) Poverty and Racism: Overlapping
Threats to the Common Good (2008)
Poverty in America: A Threat to the Common
GoodPOVERTY FACTS
37 million people live below the official federal poverty level ($20,000,HH=4)
Poverty rates are highest in central cities and in rural areas
The number of people living in poverty increased by 5.3 million between 2000 and 2004
POVERTY FACTS Poverty rates by ethnic group
Non-Hispanic Whites 8%African Americans 24.1%Hispanics 21.8%Native Americans 23.2%
Poverty in America: A Threat to the Common
Good
POVERTY FACTS Poverty rates for children, by
ethnic groupWhites 10%African Americans 33%Hispanics 28%Native Americans 27%
Poverty in America: A Threat to the Common
Good
POVERTY FACTS Two-thirds of those in poverty
are the working poor Almost half of all Americans will
have experienced poverty for a year or more by the time they reach age 60
Poverty in America: A Threat to the Common
Good
Poverty in Louisiana2006
1.6 million households in Louisiana 19% of people were in poverty 28% of related children under 18
were below the poverty level 14% of people 65 year old and over
were below the poverty level
Poverty in Louisiana2006
14% of all families had incomes below the poverty level
39% of female head-of-household families had incomes below the poverty level
Poverty in Houma-Thibodaux
Houma 2000 8,235 families 16.4% of all families
were below the poverty level
40.6% of female head-of-household families had incomes below the poverty level
Thibodaux 2000 3,289 families 20.6% of all families
were below the poverty level
51.5% of female head-of-household families had incomes below the poverty level
Poverty and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the
Common Good
Key Events Linking Race and Poverty
Slavery – labor of enslaved created wealth for others
Indian Removal Act of 1830 Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Key Events Linking Race and Poverty
Social Security Act of 1935 Wagner Act of 1935 Federal Housing Administration
loan practices (1940-1950)
Poverty in America: A Threat to the Common Good
Discussion Questions
How many are hearing of these statistics for the first time?
What shocked or disturbed you most? Who would like to give us a definition
of poverty? What are some misconceptions about
poverty? What does poverty look like in this
community?
Call to Action
Create more livable wage jobs and raise wages, including the minimum wage
Invest in social policies that support lower-income families and individualsImprove access to safe and stable child
careCreate more affordable housingImprove access to education and
training
Call to Action
Support progressive affirmative action policies in education and employment
Improve fair housing laws Enact comprehensive immigration
policies Address the disparities and
deficiencies in the criminal justice system
Things You Can Do
REFLECT Pray Review Catholic social teaching Read the papers Conduct a self-examination Act
Things You Can Do
GET INFORMED Educate yourself about poverty
in your community and in the United States
Make yourself familiar with legislation and policy proposals
Identify a specific issue on which to become an expert
Things You Can Do
GET ORGANIZED Identify existing resources or
advocacy groups working on similar issues
Develop a working group within your church or neighborhood
Things You Can Do
GET INVOLVED Get involved in advocacy
activities at the local, state and national levels
Contact your local elected officials with specific concerns about poverty in your community
Join our legislative network and become an active participant
Prayer of St. Francis
Make me a channel of your peace,Where there is hatred, let me bring
Your love,Where there is injury, Your pardon LordAnd where there’s doubt, true faith in
You
Prayer of St. Francis
Make me a channel of your peace,Where there’s despair in life let me
bring hope,When there is darkness – only lightAnd where there’s sadness, ever joy
Prayer of St. Francis
Oh Master, grant that I may never seekSo much to be consoled as to console,To be understood, as to understand,
To be loved, as to love with all my soul
Prayer of St. Francis
Make me a channel of your peace, It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all men that we receive,And in dying that we’re born to eternal
life.